Ilona and Jessika
Birthday party for my 99th Birthday
It is June 2nd 2026. Another Birthday? Oh No!
If I count correctly, it has to be 99 years.
Oh, how time flies.
For this year’s get together I have a little plan and I hope that Marcie will grant it to me.
My friends Bonnie and her daughter Kristen already asked if they could join the guests in the upstairs dining room, my very best friends and family members.
Last year, I put on a little party the night before my birthday for this little group of friends here at Woodlands that I had gathered over the last 9 years I have lived here.
A wonderful diverse group of ladies and men: we get together almost every evening around 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM for a few hours of conversations, some happy, some sad and some funny, politics and weather.
We like each other – good friends who look out for each other. Some evenings we share food, good coffee, ice cream or dessert.
When the time came for the final planning I asked my dearest Marcie if I could bring this little group of friends up to the dining room with me, and of course Marcie said yes, anyone I wanted, there is plenty food and drink, she said.
I had visualized I would bring my little family in as a group and introduce each to my friends and family.
OH, YA, before I could get them together I noticed that the little gang mixed it up, found chairs, sat down and began talking.
The tables, like always, looked beautiful, delicious assortments of food, champagne and other drinks. Everything looked so inviting and all of it spelled love.
My dearest Karin made the birthday cake this year, a Herren Torte, filled with layers of coffee crème, delicious.
It was a wonderful sight to see. Strangers a while ago. Conversation, laughter and good food brought them together.
Looking around, I had tears in my eyes for such a gift. A beautiful Birthday gift.
I realized how blessed and lucky I am. …And ever so grateful. I might, if God is willing, stick around for year 100.
ENDNOTE FROM MARCIE:
I have to add at the end of this story how wonderful this gathering was for all of us, how precious Ilona is to all of her friends and family, and how we look forward to celebrating her 100th with her in June.
